Canadiens Capture Cup, 4-3 Roy Douses Flames To Win Playoff Mvp

May 25, 1986|By United Press International

CALGARY, ALBERTA — The Montreal Canadiens became the most successful pro club in the history of North American sports Saturday night, riding the enthusiasm of their rookies and the goaltending of Patrick Roy to a 4-3 victory over the Calgary Flames and their 23rd Stanley Cup.

Roy, a 20-year-old rookie who has been nearly impenetrable throughout the playoffs, became the youngest player to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as the MVP of the playoffs.

Roy made 30 saves to wind up with a 1.92 goals-against average and a 15-5 playoff record. He is the first rookie goalie to win a Stanley Cup or Conn Smythe Trophy since Montreal's Ken Dryden in 1971.

Roy sealed the victory with a save on Jamie Macoun from a scramble while on his knees.

After losing the first game of the best-of-seven series, the Canadiens came back with four victories in a row.

Montreal clinched the Cup by withstanding a late rally by Calgary that saw the Flames cut the lead to 4-3 with 46 seconds left.

Leading, 2-1, Montreal scored twice in 19 seconds of the third period.

Unsung defenseman Rick Green scored his first playoff goal at 10:11, after rookie Dave Maley dug the puck from the corner to the left of the Calgary net and passed to Green at the blue line. Green deked Calgary's Joey Mullen, moved into the slot and beat Vernon with a 40-foot wrist shot high to the glove side.

Bobby Smith, with the winning goal, gave Montreal a 4-1 lead at 10:30, when he took a pass from Mats Naslund and beat Vernon with a wrist shot to the far side from the faceoff circle to the right of the Calgary net.

The Canadiens had been tied with the New York Yankees with 22 championships.